Telesphorus

In ancient Greek religion, Telesphorus (Greek: Τελεσφόρος Telesphoros) was a minor child-god of healing. He was a possible son of Asclepius and frequently accompanied his sister Hygieia. He was depicted as a dwarf whose head was always covered with a cowl hood or cap. He symbolized recovery from illness, as his name means "the accomplisher" or "bringer of completion" in Greek. Representations of him are found mainly in Anatolia and along the Danube. Origin and duties Telesphorus is assumed to have been a Celtic god in origin, who was taken to Anatolia by the Galatians in the 3rd century BC, where he would have become associated with the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius, perhaps in Pergamon (an Asclepian cult center) and spread again to the West due to the rise of the Roman Empire, in particular during the 2nd century AD, from the reign of Hadrian. Telesphorus has been identified with the Genius Cucullatus invoked on two inscriptions in Noricum. It is suggested by many scholars that Telesphorus was a protector of children for the healing gods. Ancient hymns honor and thank Telesphorus for guarding and favoring the birth of their healthy children. He is also depicted as the protective divinity of an Attican fraternity in lists from the third century BC. Statuettes recovered from two children's graves in Stobi, dated to the second century BC, depict Telesphorus together with a child and lead many scholars to believe that Telesphorus was thought to protect children even in death. Other representations of the deity have him depicted as a child as well.